Lady Jim of Curzon Street: A Novel — David Hume — John Shaqi
Lady Jim of Curzon Street: A Novel
David Hume · en
"Harold Garth has no family, my lady. His mother is dead."
"And his father?"
Mrs. Arthur looked down. "I know nothing about his father," she said
in low tones. "Harold is a lonely man, poor soul. He lives at the
Pentland Arms, and Mrs. Kibby, the landlady, is as kind to him as
though he were her own son. And his Grace--bless him--does all he can
to smooth Harold's way to the grave. He sent that foreign doctor
to----"
"Demetrius," said Lady Jim, quickly. "Oh, so Demetrius knows him?"
"Yes, my lady. He thinks he can cure him of this consumption. I do not
think so myself" proceeded Mrs. Arthur, garrulously, "for Harold is
booked for death. You can see it in his face. I believe his Grace
wants him to go to a warmer climate."
"What a deep interest the Duke takes in this man!"
Mrs. Arthur looked up suddenly, and a flush dyed her withered cheek.
The eyes of the two women met, and the situation was adjusted without
words. After that interchange of glances Leah knew, as well as if Mrs.
Arthur had explained at length, that Harold had ducal blood in his
veins. "And that is why he is so like Jim," she thought, rising to go.
"I hope the poor fellow will get well," she said aloud; "but really,
he was foolish to venture into that cold church."
"I don't think he minds if he is dead or alive, my lady. He has no
friends."
"Oh yes, the Duke----"
"Certainly his Grace, who is a friend to all," said Mrs. Arthur
loyally.
Lady Jim laughed, and went away. She had learned all she wished to
learn, but, beyond satisfying a passing curiosity, had no desire to
pursue the subject. Still, she thought it would amuse her to ask
Demetrius a few questions concerning this patient, and went in search
of him. Somehow the subject of Harold Garth and his resemblance to Jim
took hold of her imagination, and she could not put it out of her
head. While she was thinking of other matters, the thought of the
strange likeness--now fully accounted for--would slip in, and she
would find herself pondering. Afterwards she declared that this
insistence of a passing thought was the work of Providence, for so she
called the peacock-feather Baal she served.
Demetrius was not in the house, having been called out to see some one
who was ill in the village. So Lionel assured her, and moreover
supplied her with the name of the patient. "It's a young fellow called
Harold Garth," he said gravely; "he foolishly came to church this
morning, and, being already ill, is worse from having ventured out."
"I never heard a parson call going to church foolishness before," said
Lady Jim, surprised that the subject should crop up again in so
unexpected a manner. "Who is Harold Garth?"
"A protége of the Duke's. He has just returned from Canada," said the
curate, simply; "and, curiously enough, he is rather like the Kaimes
family. Perhaps that is why the Duke is so kind to him."
"Perhaps it is," said Leah, wondering how much Lionel guessed. "I
don't think I ever saw him," she added, mendaciously.